THE number of people arrested for driving under the influence of drink and drugs in Bedfordshire has increased, according to figures released by the police on Friday (January 20).
The findings of Beds Police’s festive anti-drink-and-drug driving campaign show that over Christmas, 69 people (11.7 per cent of those stopped) were arrested for testing positive, refusing or failing a breath test.
The campaign ran from December 1 2011 to January 1 2012 and saw an increase in the number of tests carried out on motorists from last year, from 557 to 590.
Chief Inspector Jane Aspin, of the road policing unit, was unhappy with this year’s results.
She said: “It’s disappointing to see an increase in the number of people putting themselves and others at risk by drinking and taking drugs before driving over Christmas, and while people continue to flout the law, my message to them is, our work to combat this dangerous crime doesn’t stop now the festivities are over.”
The operation saw an increase in the number of tests conducted on under 25s – up to 154 from 126 – but more encouragingly, the number of positive tests fell from 13 to 11.
Insp Aspin said: ““This should be seen as a notable success as this age group has been identified nationally as the key target in relation to drink drive offences.”
If you are found to be driving under the influence you may face a minimum of a 12-month disqualification from driving as well as a fine and/or imprisonment.
If you know a drink driver, contact the police on 101 telling them where and when they drink.
If you know someone has been drinking and is about to drive, always dial 999.